Technology and real estate. 
"Back in the day" I started in real estate (less than 15 years ago), the MLS system we used was still in DOS mode and only covered the real estate board of which we were members. 
How far we have come.  As discussed yesterday, when I did it again. 
I opened up the Sunday Boston Globe and took the chance of glancing at the front page of the real estate section.   I know ... two weeks in a row.  What was I thinking? 
A brief perusal of the headline did not make me shut the paper and put it in the pile that we use to start our fireplace with!  Immediately, I thought we were off to a good start.  It was a very good article about the use of technology in real estate. 

I blog, so I guess that a pretty good indicator that I embrace technology. 
Since I fall more into the category of the median age of the Realtor® than the median age of the buyer, the learning curve on the technology trends tends to be a little more steep for me. 
However, I am always on the lookout for the new "hot" trend and then find out the "how's and why's" of learning it. 
I got some good information from this article and even more from the posts that followed.
It's important for me as a listing agent to have all the tools that enables my client's property to be exposed to the greatest number of potential buyers. 
It's important as a buyer's agent for the buyer to feel comfortable with an agent who is communicating in the same "speak" as they are.  
As stated in the article, the needs of the median age buyer are different than the older buyer or any age of the seller.  I have not survived this wild real estate market by not providing the services my clients need and want, whatever generation they belong to. 

Another benefit for both buyers and sellers is to choose an agent with the ability to consult with them and offer options and payment methods they are not getting from many other agents. 
From a previous post, you may remember that I am an 
In the consulting model, buyers and sellers alike can pick and choose the services they want and need and save thousands of dollars by paying for only the package they put together. 

Will I date myself too much by saying "I remember when" no one wanted the MLS to be available to the public?  The sky was going to fall because the consumers would have all our information and wouldn't need us (Realtors®) anymore.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The value of a Realtor® proved to be far more relevant than prices and addresses.   

I did something yesterday that I have been shying away from recently ... I read The Big Move , which is the title of yesterday's Boston Globe Real Estate section.  Sometimes I feel the need to torture myself, and fill my head with even more negative news about my industry. 

Of course, there is more than enough (bad news)to go around.  I'm not an ostrich, although, there are days I feel that if I read one more thing that tells me the sky is falling, burying my head in the sand and staying there looks really good.  So, I have made a conscious effort to discriminate about what I read in order to fill my head with positive images and thoughts.   

Why I took the risk yesterday is just one of those things that cannot be explained.  And I got a pleasant surprise.  The "R" word was mentioned fewer times than I have fingers on one hand, there was a sense of optimism in the several articles and some good solid advice for both sellers and buyers. 
It was, in my opinion, a real turn in the tide of the "gloom and doom" we have been assulted with for more than just a couple of years.  You can read them for yourself.  A few had a focus on sellers , another few with a focus for buyers , and gave some really good advice. 

So, no, it's not a great time to sell.  Yes, it's a pretty great time to buy, especially as a first time homebuyer.  The 2 are never going to align to be good at the same time.  Kind of like the World Series ... there is a winner and a loser and never both at the same time.  There are good strategies for both, and from my perspective, that is good enough reason to begin reading about the real estate marekt again!